The top reasons to work in social care

Social care is a broad area, mainly in the public sector, and it can mean working in one of a number of different roles including, but not limited to, housing, day care, probation, or youth and community work. There are many reasons that people choose to work in the social care sector and unsurprisingly, money is not usually a determining factor. Here we look at the main reasons why people choose a career in social care, so you can decide whether it might be the right career for you.

According to The Guardian, the social care sector in the UK is suffering from a lack of qualified staff, as many people leave the profession. Staff shortages mean that it might be a good time to look for opportunities in social care, if this is an area you think you want to work in.

Challenging career

Whichever area of social care you decide to go into, as well as any relevant qualifications, you will also need a DBS check (formerly known as a CRB check). This enables a prospective employer to see whether you have any criminal convictions. Once you are working in social care, then the challenges are many, but it is the sort of career that gives you the opportunity to ‘fix’ some social injustices, and to try and work in a practical way to solve the problems of others.

Within social care, there are a variety of roles, depending on what you are interested in. For example, you might decide to start off in Youth and Community Work, then move onto something like the Probation Service. If you are more interested in providing people with help and support in their own home, then this could mean working for a Local Authority or working for a company offering social care in the private sector. You will still need all the relevant checks referred to above, but they may use a company such as www.carecheck.co.uk.

So if you think you have what it takes for a career in social care, then there are a number of different roles to choose from. Think about what might suit you best, then look at how you might start a career in that area of the social care sector.